We are revitalising Durham Street (the section between Elizabeth Street and Spring Street) and Durham Lane as part of our work to create a vibrant and successful city centre.

Working in with the build of the new University of Waikato campus we will be upgrading the street and laneway to create a modern, inviting space for everyone including new students coming to the city.

Community feedback has influenced the design, particularly in terms of greening the street and having more seating. The key themes are reflected in the concept design - a green street with trees and rain gardens, narrower road, and a raised road so it is level with the footpath for improved pedestrian movements and accessibility.

We will also be upgrading the infrastructure on the street including the wastewater system and water filtration to decrease pollutants entering the harbour.

The southern end of Durham St has been designed to allow for a proposed city bus interchange. A decision is yet to made on the final location of the bus interchange so Stage Two of the street upgrade will depend on the outcome of this decision.

What’s involved?

We are planning to get started late May 2018 with construction contractors on board. This project is expected to take 12-18 months until completion.

First we will be replacing the sewer line on a small part of Spring Street (between Grey Street and Durham Street), and then replacing the sewer line along Durham Street (from Spring Street to Elizabeth Street).

Around July this year, we expect to start Stage 1 of the street and laneway upgrade work. The second stage of work (Stage 2) will be dependent on the decision for a city centre bus interchange. One of the proposals is to locate the interchange on the southern end of Durham Street, we will keep you informed on this.

The Durham Street and Durham Lane upgrade has been a complex project full of surprises. From archaeological findings such as evidence of Maori-era storage pits, to the relocation of services that have not been touched in many years, there have been numerous twists and turns.